European Factors to Watch-Shares seen opening higher

LONDON, Sept 25 (Reuters) - European stocks were seen opening higher on
Friday, although the region's major indexes could still end the week with a loss
following blows dealt to the market this week by an emissions test debacle at
Volkswagen and new signs of a slowdown in China.
The prospect of a U.S interest rate rise has also weighed on equity markets,
and Federal Reserve head Janet Yellen said late on Thursday that she expects the
U.S. central bank to begin raising interest rates later this year as long as
inflation remains stable and the U.S. economy is strong enough to boost
employment.
Financial spreadbetters expected Britain's FTSE 100 to open up by
59-69 points, or 1-1.2 percent higher. Germany's DAX was seen opening
up by 119-143 points, or 1.3-1.5 percent higher, while France's CAC 40
was seen up by 53 points, or 1.2 percent higher.
Volkswagen shares will be in focus again in the wake of the
company's U.S. emissions test rigging scandal.
Volkswagen will name Matthias Mueller, the head of its Porsche sports car
brand, as its chief executive, a source close to the matter said on Thursday.
California was also preparing a major enforcement action against Volkswagen over
its admitted cheating on tailpipe emissions tests.
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MARKET SNAPSHOT AT 0521 GMT
LAST PCT CHG NET CHG
S&P 500 1,932.24 -0.34 % -6.52
NIKKEI 17,759.53 1.07 % 187.7
EUR/USD 1.1165 -0.57 % -0.0064
USD/JPY 120.25 0.16 % 0.1900
10-YR US TSY 2.143 -- 0.02
YLD
10-YR BUND YLD 0.604 -- 0.01
SPOT GOLD $1,147.00 -0.57 % -$6.62
US CRUDE $45.26 0.78 % 0.35
> Asian shares erase gains, dollar gains as Yellen revives rate talk
> US STOCKS-Wall St ends lower as Caterpillar, health stocks weigh
> Nikkei edges down after weak inflation data, China woes
> TREASURIES-U.S. bonds rise on stock losses, economic worries
> FOREX-Dollar rebounds after Yellen keeps alive 2015 Fed rate hike view
> PRECIOUS-Gold dips as Yellen says Fed on track to hike rates this year
> METALS-London copper eyes largest weekly drop in two months
> Oil prices stable as firm Chinese seasonal demand offsets weak Japan data
(Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta)